In a reply to another topic (see Holmsfield to Sheffield Bus Service) I recanted an old pub song from the 1950's and probably before even then.It got me thinking that we should get some of these old songs written down before they are all forgotten, as singsongs as they were, with piano accompaniementare largely a thing of the past.

So does anyone have any songs to contribute?

To kick this off, the song I recall is as follows and I would be grateful if some one could fill in the missing words

Oh give me a nail and a hammerand a picture to hang on the wallgive me a pair of step ladders in case that I should fallGive me a ........................and a barrel of old scotch aleI'll bet you I'll hang up that pictureif someone will drive in the na a a ailif someone will drive in the nail

Over to you....................

peterinfrance

I Don't Work For A Living - Give Me a Hammerby Edward Lee and James J. Mullan

Oh give me a nail and a hammerAnd a picture to hang on the wallOh give me a stone stepladderIf you don't, well I might fallOh give me a bottle of whiskeyAnd a barrel of good stong AleAnd I bet you, I'll hang up that pictureIf somebody drives the nail

I don't work for a livingI get along alright withoutI don't toil all dayI suppose it's because I not built that waySome people work for loveThey say it's all sunshine and gainBut if I can't have sunshine without any workI guess I'll stay out in the rain.

I've got a pal I think the world ofWe never agree, this is whyHe says he's the laziest personThat he is more lazy than ISo we made a bet to decide itI won without trying, you seeWhen he reached for the dough, I just whispered"Put the bet in my pocket for me"

I don't work for a living,I get along all right without.I live peacefully,For labor disputes never worry meI love my family,And even my mother-in-lawI decided to make them all happy, that's whyI never go home any more.

Now I haven't got a red pennyThe reason is I'm always brokeOf pawn tickets I haven't anyMy wife's wash is all that's in soakBut I get my three square meals dailyAnd a place to sleep when it gets darkIf I can't find a bed in the alleyThen I'll find me a bench in the park.

I don't work for a living,I get along all right without.Work's not meant for me,Why, even the thought hurts my dignityMy wife does all the work,She even puts out the ash-canBut last night I got sore when the neighbors all yelled"Why don't you put out your old man?"